The Mpumalanga Division of the High Court has reserved judgment in the bail appeal of murder-accused Sonell Joubert (43).

Joubert brought the appeal before the high court after the Tonga Magistrate’s Court denied her bail on February 24.

The appeal was heard on Thursday, May 22, with Justice J Vukeya presiding. Judgment has been reserved until next Thursday, May 29.

During the proceedings, Justice Vukeya instructed Joubert’s legal representative, Advocate Hennie van Rensburg, to submit a supplementary affidavit by Friday, May 23.

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The judge noted that she would not be in court on that day and confirmed that a ruling would only be made the following week.

The instruction came after the judge questioned the clarity of a document found on page 108 of Van Rensburg’s submissions. She pointed out that it lacked a date stamp and was not clearly legible.

Justice Vukeya ordered Van Rensburg to ensure that all necessary and properly prepared documents were submitted to the court.

Further concerns were raised over a discrepancy regarding key dates. Van Rensburg claimed that Joubert had applied for a protection order against the deceased, Jurgens Nel, on January 7.

However, State Advocate Itumeleng Phatudi argued that the application was made at a later date. The judge said she would only be able to make a ruling after reviewing the correct documentation.

Van Rensburg also informed the court that the postmortem report and photo album were still outstanding and would only be available during Joubert’s next scheduled court appearance in June.

He argued that Joubert had no knowledge of the witnesses against her and questioned why she should remain in custody if there was no risk of interference.

Despite this claim, the Tonga Magistrate’s Court had previously heard, during Joubert’s last appearance on May 8, that the investigation had been finalised and that the postmortem results were available.

Joubert was remanded in custody at that appearance, and her case docket was sent to a senior public prosecutor for a decision.

Joubert is accused of fatally stabbing Nel at Lowhills Farm in the Nkomazi region in early February. On February 1, the accused approached KaMhlushwa police, claiming that Nel had violated a protection order.

That night, police officers visited Lowhills Farm but did not speak to Nel, as they were told he had locked himself inside and was armed. Officers reported seeing him alive inside the house between 22:00 and 02:22.

On February 3, police returned and found Nel dead with six stab wounds. The accused later admitted to stabbing him during a fight. She was arrested the following day after giving a statement at the police station.

The court raised concerns over the minor injuries she sustained and the missing murder weapon, casting doubt on her account.